Surface-indicator.



W. A. JAMES.

SURFACE INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED m. n. ma.

Patented Sept. 24, 1918..

3 swims-shun.

I'll/47111 w IIH Z W. A. JAMES.

SURFACE INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12. 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

W. A. JAMES.

SURFACE INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED ma. 12. ms.

1,279,703. Patented Sept 24,1918.

M 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3'.

WILLIAM ALERED JAMES, OF'WOONSQGKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE CRAFT- PEIRGEMANIIFACTURING COMPANY, OF NDONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPO- RATION OFRHODE ISLAND.

SURFACE-INDICATOR.

To aid whom it may concern Be ut known that I, lViLninii' ALFRED Janus, a citizen of the United Eitatcs, Iresullng at Woonsocket, 1n the county ol Providence and State of Rhode lslani'h ha vc invented certain new and useful Improv ments in Snrtace-lndicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates bromlly to precision testing instruments, and more particularly to surface indicating tools.

The principal object of the ZPI'Otitllt invention an improvement on the type of instrun'ient disclosed in the patent to James, No. 917344;, April 4, 1909.

Another ob'ect of thepresent invention 'is to provlde an instrument of this type having an indicating or dial hand which is at all times under the influence of a plurality of tension devices, so that positive movement thereof in-both directions .is produced, and with the parts arranged to compensate for changing linear motion into rotary motion.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a knife edge bearing for the measuring arm adapted to cooperate with a surface which may be rotated to bring different portions thereof into engagement with the knife edge so as. to compensate for wear thereof, and which maybe bodily adjusted to bring the measuring arm to such position that the dial hand is normally at zero.

A further object of the present invention is an indicator of the character specified wherein linear motion is transmitted through lever connections and a flexible cable into rotary motion whereby the parts are arranged to automatically compensate for irregularities due to the action of linear motion onthe multiplying lever.

A still further object of .the present invention comprises an indicator of the character specified wherein --linear movement of the contact member is'transmitted as simple harmonic mot-ionto a movement multiplyin lever and further transmitted from said lover through a flexible connection to an indicating vhand with the parts arranged to transforn'i the simple harmonic :motion into unifomn rotation lot the said hand.

Specification of Letters'Patent.

Patented SeptJ24, 1918 Serial No. 216,780.

-Other an(.l-fu1-tl1e1'=0bjects of the present invention Will inpart be obvious and Will in part beipointed out hereinafterin the specification following 'by reference to the :accompanying drawings wherein like parts are represented by like characters throughout the several figures thereof.

Figure 1 is a plan View illustrating my invention and showing aport-ion ofthe outside shell broken away.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2---2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enla-rged'detail of the adjustable bearing .for the measuring arm.

Fig. 4 is a diagrai'nmatic view illustrating the arrangement of parts foiucompensating and coordinating .the various .movements to produce a proper'reading on the indicating scale.

Surface indicators have heretofore :been constructed with mulitplying ,gearing betvveen the indicatinghand and the contact point and such constructions have included grooved cams and also trains of Itoothed gearing. Indicators of this character are objectionablebecause of the'liability' of dirt in the gears causing the parts kto stick; and also becanse gearing constructions include more-or less lost motionbetween the indicating hand and the contact point, both of which contribute to inaccuracies of ,theinstrument. It is also old in theartfto provide movement multiplyingjlevers connected to the indicatin .hand by flexible cnliecj t-ions, for'examp elthe construction disclosed, in the James patent 'No. 917 4H previonsly referred !to. This ty e ofiindicator ither requires a specialgradua'ted scale, or Where the hand codperate's with a uniformly graduated scale the indications are ,re'lative rather than absolute measurement-s. device of this character it -is particularly desirable that the moving patt be 6911-; structed of the lightest mass which carry sufiicient strength .to perform the functions desired.

The present lnVGIliilOIl overcomes l the handinthedirection oflaero i l.

or coiliner-clockwise; and a heavier spring is provided to always tension the contact arm .in the opposite direction or toward the contact point, and whereby the parts are so constructed as to cause the movement of the indicating hand to correspond both in direction and in proportion to the movement of the contact point.

More particularly a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a circular casing carrying a suitable scale and an indicating hand which is normally urged toward the zero by a convolute spring. The staff or shaft for the hand is suitably mounted in adjustable eweled bearings with a small drum on the staff to which is attached a flexible member that is carried around the drum with the other end of the flexible member connected to the outer portion of a lever of the second class that is pivoted in an offset. from the circular casing. Extending from the offset portion is a small. tube in which a contact member carrying a contact point is mounted in such u'ianner as to be capable of both rotatal'ile and sliding movement. The lever is provided with a knife edge which rests against a hardened surface on a shoulder on this contact member and a coiled spring normally urges the contact. member outwardly. The drum on the hand carrying shaft is so positioned Within the are described by the outer end of the multiplying arm that the point of tangency of the flexible member recedes as the arm approaches the drum. To facilitate securing the indicator in position a suitable holder adapted to be clamped by a thumbnut is rotatably. mounted on an extension from the back of the casing. This extension where desired may be utilized as a member into which the staff or shaft for the indicating hand may extend thereby providing a relatively long'shaft with well spaced apart bearings to carry the indicating. hand. The indicator comprising the present invention is positive and accurate in operation. and eco nomic'al to manufacture, aswell as being so constructed as. to stand considerable abuse without afi 'ectingits accuracy.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, my improved indicator preferably coniprises a main casing 1 composed of front and back portions connected b means of machine screws 2 or the like. ounted on the front portion of the casing is a face plate, or dial 4, having suitable graduations 5 formed; thereon and protected by a transparent face 6 held in position by a face ring of any well known construction. Extending through and projecting from therear portion of the casingis ahuh 8 carrying a hub collar 9 held in adjusted posi-.

tion by a washer 10 and hub nut 11. Secured to the adjustable collar 9is a supportmg arm 12 adapted to be clamped in the tool stand. of the machine with which [he iudicator is being employed. By loosening the hub nut 11 the indicator may be adjusted relatively to the support so as to bring the parts thereof into operative relation with the Work being tested, as Will be more fully described hereinafter. Extending longitlr dinally through the hub 8 is a central threaded bore 14-. adapted to receive the shaft 15 and carrying a sensitive front jewel bearing 16 and an adjustable rear jewel bearing 17 The rear jewel hearing may be held in adjusted position and protected from breakage by means of a jewel bearing check screw 18 threaded into the bore of the hub.

The indicating mechanism may comprise a dial hand bushing 19 carried by the front of the shaft 15 for supporting the dial hand 20. A hair spring 21 secured at one end to the collet fixedly mounted on the shaft 15, and. at the other and mounted in an auchor post 2 L by means of a wedge 25, tends normally to urge the hand 20 to rotation toward. the zero position or counter clockwise. At the side of the casing 1 is a. sup plemental casing 26, having an outwardly projecting extension. 27 constituting a container and bearing for the plunger rod 28 of the contact member and its associated parts. The projecting end 29 of the plunger rod carries a contact head 30 having a knurled portion 31 for positioning the threaded portion 32 within the sliding sleeve 34 so that the end of the threaded portion. contacts with the end of the rod and acts to lock the sleeve 34.- in position on the rod 2-8. A comparatively strong coiled spring 35 surrounds the central portion of the plunger rod and abuts at one end against the fixed sleeve 36, and at the other end engages the sliding sleeve or bushing 34 for normally urging the same outwardly to the limit permitted by the plunger rod bnshin g stop pin 37. The inner end 38 of the plunger rod is in adjustable threaded engagement with the extension rod 39 having a knurled operating head 40.

A measuring arm. or movement. uuiltiplring device 41, having a cylindrical journal portion 42 supported by the conical hearing surfaces 45 of the adjustable pivots 4-4 extending into the hollow bore 46. is provided with a. knife edge 47 in direct operative engagement .with the surfacml end 7' of the extension 39. The opposite end of the measuring arm 41 is adapted to actuate the indicating hand by means of a flexible. member 48 secured "to, andpassing around, the drum 49 on the indicating hand shaft 15. Openings 50 in the hub' 8 permit the passage of the flexible connection in the manner described. As before pointed out. the hair spring 21is adapted'to urge the indicating hand to rotation in counter clock- Wise direction, away from normal zero posiiii same to rotation, and a spring engaging said contact member and urgmg the same to out ward movement whereby the ,parts are main.- tained in tensional relation. r

3. A. surface indicator comprising a casing, a rotatably adjustable reciprocating contact. member projecting therefrom, a

scale carried by thecasing, an indicatorrotatably mounted inithe cas ng and co operating with said scale, a. measuring arm directly cooperating'iwith said adjustable contact 'member, a-fiexible connection bethe same to outward movement'whereby the.

tween'said measuring arm and the indicator, a springcennected with said indicator and urging. the. same to rotation, and a spring engaging said contact member and parts" are maintained in tensional :relation. 4. Afsurface indicator comprising a casing, a rotatably and longitudinally adjustable" reciprocating contact member projecting therefrom, a scale carried by the casing,

an indicator rotatably'mou'nted in the casing and coiiperating with said scale, aln'easuring arm directly coiiperating with adjustable contact member, a flexible connection between said. measuring arm and them 'dicator, a spring connected with said indicator and urging the same to'rotation, and

a spring engaging said contact member and urging the same to outward movement whereby the parts aremaintained in tensional relation -5. A surface indicatorcomprising a casing, a support on said casing, a reci rocating contact member projecting there rom, a

dial carried by said casing, an indicator -roi tatably mounted in the casing and'coiiperatingjwithfa. scale on said dial, a measuring arm directly cooperating with said contact member, a flexible .eonnectiombetween said measuring arm and the indicator, a spring connected with said' indicator and urging the same torotation, means to 'adjustt-heindisaster to the zero of the. scale: without changing the position of the contact and of the contact member, and a spring-engaging .said contact member: and urgmg the samete outward movement whereby the parts are maintained in tensional relation.

6. A surface indicator comprisingin combination a, casing, "a reciprocating contact member having an end projecting from saidcasing, a dial carried by said casing, anindicator rotatably mounted in saidcasing and adapted to indicate readingsona scale on the dial, a measuringarm in directengagement with said contact member, means operatively connecting said measuring arm with said indicator, a spring. connected with said indicator and urging same to rotatein a direction to produce a positive'reading from zero position on the scale, a spi'ingcoii rating with said contact member-and ten g toforcesaid contact'member outwardly and f edged bearing thereby tending to move said indicator in a directionto produce a negative reading relative to the scale whereby the connectmg means are-maintained by tens1on,.andgmeans for adjusting the indicator to normally stand f at the zero of the scale and without changing the positionof the contact end -'of the contact member. f

, 7. As'an article of manufacture, a contact member for surface indicators comprising a plunger rod, an extension adjust-ably secured thereto, a bearing surface formed on said extension, and means for 'rotatably' and iongitudinally adjusting said bearing surface.

8. A deviceof the character described, in combination, a relatively thin casing, a hub extendingfrom said casin said hub being constructed hollow, ashaf t extending into said hub, bearings for said shaft supported by said hub, an indicating hand .uponsaid fshaft,-and means for rotating said shaft to operate said indicating hand. Y Y

. 9, In adevice of the character described, 7'

in, combinatiom a relatively thin casing, a

hub-projecting from the middle portion of said casing, a supportingrod provided with r a sleeve through which saidv hub extends,-a clamp nut for clamping. said hub to said sleeve said hub beingformed hollow, a shaft extending said hub, bearings for said shaft, an indicating needle earned by said shaft,'a'nd means for operating said indicating needle. V

- 10. In a device'o'f the character; described, in combination, a casing, a hub extending outwardlyfrom said casing, and being providedwithan opening,a support. coiiperative'with said hub to permit said casing to be adjusted. relatively to said support, a

shaft extending into an "opening insaid hub,

bearings for said shaft carried by said hub,

and means for rotating said shaft, substantiallyas described. Y

11 A device. of the character described, comprising incombination, a casing, a sleeve extending from said casing, a contact post slidable and rotatable in said sleeve, ashoulder on said post and being" rovided with a hardened surface, a lever aving a knife constructed to rest against said hardene surface, a flexible connection secured toone end of said lever,a drum to which the other end of said flexible connection is secured, a shaft, and a convolute spring normally tending to rotate said shaft" to cause said drum to draw the knife edge on said lever against said surface. V

12. In a device of thecharacter described,

a lever, a contact post operatively connected with said lever whereby the linear motion of said post produces simple harmonicmotionof said lever, a shaft, a drum mounted on said shaft, and means 0 ratively connectmg said drum andlsaid ever, the parts being constructed and arranged in such man- 

